What is a Bobcat Beyond badge?
A Bobcat Beyond badge is a digital recognition that highlights your learning and growth.
How can I use them?
You can showcase your badges in several ways:
- Add them to your email signature.
- Layer them on your profile photos.
- Display them on external platforms such as LinkedIn.
What badges can I earn?
You can earn:
- Tiered badges by meeting the minimum professional development requirements.
- Specialty badges by completing the specific criteria for each badge.
- Competition badges by winning designated competitions throughout the year.
When will badges be awarded?
Badges are awarded four times a year after each progress point submission date. You can update your progress anytime鈥攏o need to wait! Badges are based on your overall professional development for the calendar year. Once you meet a badge criterion, you will receive your badge after the next progress point submission date.
Bobcat Beyond kicks off January 1, 2026! Submit your progress by each date to be considered for a badge:
馃搶Progress point 1: March 31, 2026
馃搶Progress point 2: June 30, 2026
馃搶Progress point 3: September 30, 2026
馃搶Progress point 4: December 31, 2026
Bronze Badge
Requirement: minimum of 7 professional development activities or 15 hours of professional development.
Silver Badge
Requirement: minimum of 11 professional development activities or 25 hours of professional development.
Gold Badge
Requirement: minimum of 15 professional development activities or 50 hours of professional development.
Knowledge Sharer
Teach or mentor at least one colleague or team on a skill or concept learned from professional development. Must be directly linked to a completed professional development activity. Minimum duration spent teaching or mentoring is 60 minutes.
Submission Requirements:
Write one sentence that explains who you taught, when and where it happened, how long it lasted, and what you shared.
- List the professional development activity and provide documentation of attendance or completion.
Knowledge in Action
Share how a concept, tool, or skill from a professional development activity helped you improve a task, project, or workflow. Must be directly linked to a completed professional development activity.
Submission Requirements:
- Write a brief summary (2-3 sentences) explaining the change and outline outcomes or improvements (increased efficiency, cost savings, improved quality, enhanced collaboration, etc.).
- List the professional development activity and provide documentation of attendance or completion.
Lifelong Learner
Option 1: Demonstrate continuous commitment to growth. Must earn at least 1 badge per year for 3 consecutive years and is maintained by continuing to meet the requirements of one badge per year.
Option 2: Awarded to an employee when they complete a graduate, undergraduate, or certificate program.
Submission Requirements:
- Submit your professional development progress using the . If you have completed a graduate, undergraduate, or certificate program, let us know in the Specialty Badge section on the form.
Learning Leader
Demonstrate leadership in promoting professional development across the team or department. Organize or lead at least one initiative that supports learning (e.g., workshops, learning circles, resource sharing, etc.).
Submission Requirements:
- Write a brief summary (2-3 sentences) on the initiative you led. Include dates, number of participants, and how your efforts contributed to a culture of learning (increased engagement, improved skills, enhanced collaboration, etc.).
- Include any supporting documentation (e.g., agendas, communications, feedback, etc.).
Campus Champion
Earn this badge by achieving the highest cumulative professional development hours for your campus during 2026! One individual from each Ohio University campus will be recognized with this badge.
Campus Locations:
馃搷Athens
馃搷Chillicothe
馃搷Cleveland
馃搷Dublin
馃搷Eastern
馃搷Lancaster
馃搷Southern
馃搷Zanesville
January 1 to March 31
Momentum Maker
Start the year strong by setting and achieving your professional development goals!
Earn this badge by completing the highest amount of professional development hours between January 1 and March 31.
April 1 to June 30
Leadership Champion
Showcase your leadership skills and commitment to growth!
Earn this badge by completing the most professional development activities focused on leadership between April 1 to June 30.
July 1 to September 30
Service Excellence Enthusiast
Kick off the academic year by sharpening your customer service skills!
Earn this badge by completing the most professional development courses focused on service excellence between July 1 and September 30.
October 1 to December 31
Wellness Wonder
Close out the year by prioritizing mental health and well-being!
Earn this badge by completing the most professional development courses focused on wellness between October 1 and December 31.
You can submit your professional development progress at any time throughout the year. Submissions will be reviewed, and badges will be awarded after each progress point submission date:
馃搶Progress point 1: Submissions due by March 31, 2026
馃搶Progress point 2: Submissions due by June 30, 2026
馃搶Progress point 3: Submissions due by September 30, 2026
馃搶Progress point 4: Submissions due by December 31, 2026
Important: You do not need to meet a badge criterion to submit your progress! Your professional development will be tracked continuously, and badges will be awarded once you meet the required criteria.
How to Submit
To submit your completed professional development, open the . The form will require:
- Professional Development Title
- Date(s) of Completion
- Duration of Professional Development Opportunity (in hours)
Each professional development opportunity must include documentation of attendance or completion. Acceptable documentation includes:
- PDF of certificate
- Photo of certificate
- Screenshot of completion page
- Screenshot of attendance in an online presentation
- Photo of attendance at an in-person presentation
- Other documentation
Specialty Badges
If you are applying for a Specialty Badge, you must provide an explanation of how you met the badge criteria. Review each badge description for specific requirements and attach any necessary documentation on the form.
Competition Badges
Every employee will automatically be entered to win a Competition Badge based on the information submitted through the Bobcat Beyond form.
